A/N: Wow! So I had some free time, finally, to do some writing. I've honestly missed it so much! But I don't know if I'm completely satisfied with this chapter. There's new characters (and let me tell you, I did A LOT of research for these characters) and I am going to try to stay as close to the actual timeline of their deaths and such as I possibly can. So please let me know your thoughts [be kind to me, I'm out of practice on writing]. Hope you enjoy!
James' parents had received the news well enough, as James assumed, they would. They weren't surprised he and Sirius would join the Order. They however, did not tell them the specifics, in case the worst was to happen and they were caught and interrogated by the Death Eaters. James shuddered to even think that, but he knew this was war, and they had to be prepared for anything—even the unthinkable.
As Lily waited, hoping to hear from Severus, they all began looking for places to live and places to work, so as to keep up with appearances. The girls all found a flat in muggle London, not far from Diagon Alley, and the boys found one a few blocks away. Dorcas started her healer's courses, and Marlene, James, and Sirius all started their Auror training. Peter got a job working at The Leaky Cauldron, and Lily applied for a job at The Daily Prophet.
They were all to meet at the girls' flat that night, but while everyone was at their jobs and training, Lily dragged Remus out of his flat, and into Diagon Alley to get some ice cream. She knew he was discouraged, not knowing if he'd be able to get a job.
"I'm sure if you ask Dumbledore, he'd be able to help you out," Lily suggested, as they waited outside the ice cream shop for their ice creams.
"I don't know, I don't want to have to rely on him," Remus said, avoiding her eyes and rubbing the back of his neck.
"Remus, I know you'll find something. You're absolutely brilliant, and anyone who can't see that, or chooses not to see it is a complete and utter waste of your time."
Remus grinned and blushed. "Thanks." They both kept silent while their ice creams were delivered to their table. As Remus was about to take a bite, he recognized someone walking toward them. "Alice?"
"Hello Remus, hello Lily," Alice Longbottom smiled at them, reaching their table.
"Alice!" Lily almost screeched, jumping out of her chair to give her friend a tight hug. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"Easy Lily, might let her breathe so she can tell you," Remus chuckled.
"Oh, right, sorry," Lily said, pulling away and still smiling at her friend.
"No worries," Alice laughed. "I've missed you too. May I sit?"
"Of course!" Lily exclaimed, taking her own seat.
"So what have you been up to? How is being an auror?" Lily asked.
"It's definitely a challenge, but Frank and I love it," Alice smiled.
"How is Frank?" Remus asked.
"He's great! Honestly, we're staying plenty busy," she glanced out of the corner of her eye for a split moment. If Remus hadn't been staring at her, he would have missed it, as Lily had. "Speaking of, I probably better get back to work," she said as she stood. "It was so great seeing you Lily! I hope we'll run into each other again soon." She turned to Remus and stuck her hand out. "Remus, it was great seeing you too!"
He took her hand and shook it. As she pulled her hand away, he noticed she left a piece of paper in his hand. He smiled and said, "Yeah, it was great seeing you too," as he put his hands in his pockets.
Smiling, Alice waved her goodbyes, and continued down Diagon Alley.
As Lily was starting to sit down, Remus said, "Lily, let's head back."
"What? But-"
"I suddenly don't feel very well," Remus said, looking pleadingly at her.
"Oh, uh, alright," Lily said compassionately. She grabbed her things, and grabbed his arm. They didn't say much the entire way back to his flat. As soon as they got into his flat, he cast charms and turned to Lily.
"Okay, what's really going on?" Lily asked, crossing her arms and looking at him questioningly as he cast the charms.
He pulled the paper from his pocket. "Alice gave me this. Figured we better get back to a private place to read it."
Lily's eyes opened wide, and she came closer to read the paper.
2485 Spinney Lane
Six Thirty
"Six thirty? That's in a few minutes," Lily said looking at her watch.
"Where is Spinney Lane?" Remus asked.
"I don't-whoa!" Lily suddenly exclaimed, seeing the paper turn to flame then ash, causing Remus to jump back.
Remus chuckled. "It must be from Dumbledore."
"Shouldn't we wait and tell the others?"
"I'm sure knowing Dumbledore, he's already contacted them."
Lily checked her watch again. "We better go." She extended her arm to Remus and walked out of the flat, before apparating to the address.
Once they both got their bearings, the looked at the street they were on. It wasn't a busy street. There was a park behind them, and in front of them were tall apartment buildings. They looked for 2485, but realized that number was missing.
Lily looked at Remus questioningly, and Remus shrugged back. They walked forward, and just as he touched the small fence in front of the apartments, they saw apartment building 2485 squeeze its way forward. They both grinned. "Brilliant," Remus said, leading the way to the door.
Lily looked around, making sure no one noticed the apartment's sudden appearance, or were watching them approach it. Remus knocked on the door, and he was suddenly sucked into the door. Lily gasped, and grabbed her wand. She hesitantly touched the door with her wand, before she also was suddenly sucked through the door.
The first thing she saw was Remus standing there, grinning at her with his arms crossed. "Well, that was an experience," he laughed.
Lily smiled and looked around her. It looked like a typical apartment. Hooks on the wall by the door, that already had cloaks hanging on them. There was a well-lit hallway, that led to two different rooms. Walking forward, the room to the left was a kitchen, the room to the right was a sitting room, and in the sitting room, were about 20 people. Lily recognized some, as they were her classmates, friends, and teachers. The others were all older than her.
"Lily! Remus! You're here!" squeeled Dorcas, running over to them and grabbing Remus' arm. "Come on, the meeting is about to start," she said before dragging Remus over to the group, Lily following behind.
She smiled when she saw James turn and see her, smiling at her and wrapping his arm around her. "Glad to see you finally showed up," he whispered. "Usually, I'm the one who's late."
She elbowed him lightly in his ribs. Before she could reply, Dumbledore stood up and started to speak.
"Thank you all for coming as such short notice. I realize, not everyone here is acquainted with each other, and we will remedy that soon. But first, we have some important business to attend to," he said calmly, gaining the attention of every single person in the room immediately. "It has come to our attention, that Lord Voldemort is heavily recruiting his followers, and those who refuse him, have dire consequences," he said sadly, turning to a grumpy looking man who had scratches on his face. "As most of you know, this is Alastor Moody, and he is an auror at the ministry. The aurors were called to a small town north of London, Welwyn. There they found a goblin family murdered in their own home."
There were gasps throughout the room, as Dumbledore remained silent, letting the new settle in.
"Now, we are not clear as to whether or not they were trying to be recruited, if it was an initiation, or if it was just a game for Voldemort and his followers," he said solemnly. "All must be prepared, take extra precaution, put up extra wards, and –"
"Be vigilant," growled Alastor Moody.
"Yes, of course," Dumbledore replied. "Is there any other reports?" He looked around the room. "No? Well then, we will introduce our new members then, shall we?" He extended his arm towards the group of friends. "James Potter, Lily Evans, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Marlene McKinnon, Dorcas Meadows, and Peter Pettigrew, please come forward."
Lily couldn't help but take a quick look at Peter. She hadn't even seen him. She realized they all needed to keep with the timeline, let things occur as they were supposed to, but she couldn't help but feel resentment towards him. A tug from James' hand brought her back to the present.
"Misters Potter and Black and Miss McKinnon are currently going through auror training. Miss Meadows is training to be a healer, which will come in very handy I'm afraid. And Mr. Pettigrew is currently working at the Leaky Cauldron, which will also prove very useful for us," he said, as each stepped forward. "And Miss Evans has applied to the Daily Prophet, which will help us get leads on happenings around the country. Mr. Lupin I will have a special job for you," he said, looking at Remus. "If we can meet privately after this meeting."
Remus, not liking being the center of attention, cleared his throat and nodded. "Y-yes sir."
"Very well. Now, since there is nothing else to discuss, meeting is adjourned. Please welcome our new recruits." With that, he gently pulled Remus with him out of the room, with Remus looking back almost looking scared.
"Well, that was cheerful," Sirius said.
"I wonder what job he has for Remus," Dorcas said softly, looking at the door they just went through.
"I'm sure it's a bloody good one if it's coming straight from Dumbledore," Sirius said. "Meanwhile, we have to work our tails off and not get to see one bloody bit of action."
"Want some action do you Black?" came a gruff voice behind them, causing them all to jump. "Be vigilant!" Moody said forcefully. "If you lot are going to be in the Order, you all need to be vigilant. Especially you three," he pointed at Sirius, James and Marlene," since you are training to be aurors." He gave them a haughty look and walked off.
"Cheerful, isn't he?" Sirius said.
"Quite," Lily said.
"Don't let him get to you. Alastor has always been-well—passionate?" Turning they saw two tall red head twins.
"I'd say barmy, but I guess that applies also."
"Pleasure to meet you lot! He's Fabian Prewett," nodded one red head, to his twin.
"And he's Gideon Prewett."
"Oh, er, nice to meet you," Marlene said, trying to keep straight which one was which.
"We just got here on the last bit," Gideon said.
"Just got back from our sister's wedding," said Fabian.
"Blimey good wedding too," said Gideon. "Those Weasley's are sure a fun bunch."
"Oh, you're Molly's brothers?" Lily asked, remembering Molly being a few years ahead of them.
"That's right," Fabian said.
"She just married Arthur Weasley," Gideon said.
"How wonderful!" Dorcas exclaimed.
"Ah, there you are," came a familiar voice behind them.
"Professor McGonagall!" Lily exclaimed.
"Miss Evans, good evening Gideon, Fabian," McGonagall nodded. She had someone with her, who was a bit younger, and he had the same features as Minerva. "I'd like you all to meet my younger brother, Robert Jr."
"Pleasure to meet you all," he smiled.
"These were some of my best students," McGonagall beamed.
"Ah Minnie, do you really mean that?" James asked with a sly smile. Robert chuckled.
"Please tell me everyone else heard her say that," Sirius said, looking around the group.
"Yes Mr. Black, although a few of you were the cause for these gray hairs," McGonagall said exasperatedly.
"I'm sure it wasn't just this lot that helped with that," Gideon said coyly.
"Yeah, I know for a fact we had a helping hand in it too," Fabian finished.
"There is no doubt about that," McGonagall replied, trying to hide her smile at the twins. "Anyway, I wanted to introduce you to my brother, and to also let you know Lily, that should you not get the job at the Daily Prophet, you are always welcome to come teach at Hogwarts."
Lily's eyes opened wide. "Really?"
"Of course! You had the top grades in your year! Of course, I know Dumbledore wishes for you to be at the Daily Prophet to assist with the order, but even Dumbledore can't get everything he wants," she grinned. "Now we –"
She was cut off from finishing when a patronus came flying through the wall. "Attack in Evesham," came a voice, and then it disappeared.
Suddenly, everyone was running out the front door to disapparate. "Alright you lot, let's go," grumbled Moody as he passed them.
"Professor, are you coming?" Lily asked McGonagall.
"I'm afraid not this time dear. I need to get back to the school," she said, quickly nodding to her brother, who followed the rest of the order out. "You all take care of yourselves and look after each other. Be vigilant," she said with a small smile before heading to the fireplace and disappearing in a cloud of green.
"Alright, let's go," James said, pulling Lily with him. Before going through the door, she saw Remus in the hallway looking torn, but not moving. As she was about to tell him to come with them, she saw Dumbledore stand behind him, giving her a confident look, and the door shut behind her.
Before she could say anything to her friends, they all apparated to Evesham, and what they saw was madness.
Different colored lights from spells going everywhere, screams, yells, people running, some bodies on the ground, unknown if they were simply stunned, wounded, or dead. Before she could process much more, she was pulled by James as a bright green light was headed straight at them.
"Constant vigilance," James and Sirius both muttered continuously.
Before they could even think of coming up with a plan, three masked, hooded figures appeared before them, firing spells at them. Marlene put a shield up, reflecting the spells, while James and Sirius went into auror mode and started returning fire.
Behind them, four more figures appeared. Dorcas, Lily, and Peter started firing spells, dodging any that got too close. Screams were heard, just before a loud explosion knocked them all down. Lily sat up with ringing in her ears. She couldn't see the people she had been fighting, but the ones fighting her boyfriend and friends were still attacking. Standing up, she saw Peter was lying still on the ground, and Dorcas was heading straight to him. "Help him Dorcas," Lily yelled, even though she knew she was already on the way to do just that.
"Stupefy!" Shouted Sirius, hitting one of the hooded figures, and knocking him back on the ground. They continued to battle the other two.
Lily looked around and saw there was still complete chaos. Hooded figures everywhere, she knew they were Voldemort's followers. Suddenly she saw him—Voldemort. He was fighting a group of three nearby. All of a sudden, he swiped his wand at them and they all flew back. His eyes flew to hers and he seemed to glide towards them.
"James," Lily said urgently. He seemed to sense it, and turned to her, following her eyes to the approaching figure. Sirius and Marlene noticed the three figures stopped attacking, and realized who was walking towards them.
Out of nowhere, Sirius was thrown back, a spell shot at him while his guard was down.
"Now, now, is this any way to treat our brothers and sisters?" Voldemort said to his followers, before looking at the group of friends.
He looked at them as if they were a prize to be won, and it made Lily mad. They all glared at him, waiting to see what he would do.
"Why, it was for you all, that we had this little—game," he said joyfully, looking around at the fighting and death.
"Game? You think this is a game you sick psycho!" Sirius spat, standing up, Marlene putting her hands on his chest to stop him from doing something stupid.
Voldemort just smiled at them, which sent shivers up Lily's back. Then she realized the rest of what he had said. "What do you mean, for us?"
Voldemort smiled even more. He knew this muggle born was brilliant. Had heard it plenty of times from a few of his younger followers who went to school with her. He knew she would be a great asset to him and his plans, even if she was a muggle born. "Of course! How else would I get you brilliant, young," he gave a sidelong glance at Lily, "diverse wizards and witches to hear what I have to offer you?"
Lily was suddenly overcome with anger. Anger, because she knew exactly what he had to offer. She knew exactly what he was capable of, and what lengths he was willing to go to do it. Summoning her Gryffindor courage she stared at him hard. "You have nothing to offer us," she said boldy.
He grinned. "You won't even hear what I have to offer?"
"You heard her!" James said, standing next to her, his wand arm raised. "You want nothing but power. Power over every living creature on earth, and nothing you say will make us help you achieve that."
Lily felt Peter and Dorcas behind her. She briefly wondered if Peter was a spy already for Voldemort. "Well, if you won't hear what I could offer you, maybe you will listen to someone you know personally," he said before holding out his arm to one of his followers. He stepped forward and removed his hood. It was Severus.
Lily's eyes opened wide. She knew it was coming. She knew he was a Death Eater. But seeing it, seeing him there, knowing he had been fighting her friends—it hurt. But he was going to help them, wasn't he? After all Dumbledore had told him, had shown him? While she was processing all this, she failed to see another of his followers step forward.
After removing his hood, Sirius nearly growled seeing his brother before him.
"I believe you know Severus and Regulus," Voldemort said calmly, as if there weren't any screams and shouts, and fighting going on behind him. "Tell them, what does Lord Voldemort have to offer them?"
Regulus spoke first. "Power among his ranks."
Severus spoke next. "A clean world."
"To come out of hiding from the muggles."
"Safety." Severus said, looking directly into Lily's eyes.
"You see," Voldemort said, failing to see the look Severus gave Lily. "You can have all this, and to go on with your lives. All I ask, is that you give your unfailing loyalty to me."
James grabbed Lily's hand, knowing exactly how she was feeling. They all knew what he was capable of. "We will never join you."
Voldemort's smile vanished instantly, and his eyes seemed to glow red. "So be it." All at once, he and his followers started throwing curses at them, mainly the killing curse, but they were all prepared for it. They dodged, they ducked, they fired curses back, trying to stun them, disarm them, deflecting their curses away from them.
Lily had never fought so hard in her life, except for maybe when they had gone to the future and she was helping protect the students. Remembering that, those moments that would happen if they didn't change things, gave her a boost of strength, and she fought on with even more vigor.
Peter went down with a cutting curse to his arm, but Dorcas was too busy deflecting curses to check on him. Sirius and Marlene were battling with everything they had against Regulus. Sirius didn't want to hurt his brother, but seeing him there as a follower of Voldemort angered him. James and Lily were fighting Severus and Voldemort. Had Lily not been so preoccupied with deflecting Voldemort's curses, she would have noticed Severus was not sending dangerous curses towards them.
Suddenly, Voldemort stopped and looked up the hill. Dumbledore had just apparated, and he sent a bright light into the sky, blinding everyone. She heard Voldemort yell, before she heard pops all around her. Blinking her eyes, she noticed all the Death Eaters and Voldemort were gone.
James grabbed her and hugged her, both of them breathing heavily. "You're bloody brilliant, you know that?" James said, grabbing her face and kissing her fiercely.
She leaned her forehead against his, breathing him in. "You are too," she chuckled slightly. "You realize this is the start of it," she whispered.
He knew what she meant. Born to those who have thrice defied him. This was the first they had defied him. "I know," he crooned, rubbing her back.
Wiping her eyes, she pulled back and looked around her. There was so much destruction. She saw Dorcas running to people, reviving those who could be revived, healing those who could be saved. "James, do you think-"
"I think Snape is on our side," James said, seeming to know exactly where her thoughts were going. "He wasn't trying too hard to cruse us. Unless he's just really terrible at it," he tried to joke.
She jabbed him in the stomach. "And Regulus?"
James suddenly gasped. "Sirius!" he shouted, spinning around trying to find his friend.
"I'm here you sod, no need to yell. Just wanted to give you some alone time," Sirius said, helping a limping Marlene.
"Marlene, are you alright?" Lily exclaimed.
"I'm fine, just got a cutting curse on my leg," she said, as Sirius set her down on a tree stump. "Peter got hit with one too on his arm, but Dorcas patched him up alright," she said, nodding towards Peter, who was standing a ways from the group, his eyes wide, and his arms tight around him. He looked absolutely terrified. Lily could somewhat see why he did what he did—or was going to do. Voldemort was terrifying.
Before anything could be said to Peter, Dorcas came running up the hill to them. "Hey, we need help getting the injured to St. Mungos."
Bracing themselves, they all went down the hill, to help the injured, and to identify and properly bury their dead.